ABC edges up for convention finale

CBS repeats earn top tune-in

After trailing NBC among broadcast nets for the first two nights of the Republican National Convention, ABC leapfrogged into the top spot for Thursday’s final night, according to preliminary nationals from Nielsen.

Pending timezone adjustments later today, ABC’s coverage in the 10 p.m. Eastern hour drew a 1.0 rating and 3 share among viewers 18-49, even with CBS but ahead in total viewers, 4.2 million to 3.5 million. NBC (0.8/2, 3.3 million) was third in the demo, fourth if you include Univision (0.9/3, 2.3 million).

All three broadcast networks have been trailing Fox News, which averaged more 7 million viewers over the first two nights.

Top-ranked among non-political programs on the broadcast nets Thursday were reruns of “Big Brother” (2.3/6, 6.5 million), “The Big Bang Theory” (2.1/7, 7.8 million) and “Two and a Half Men” (1.9/6, 6.7 million), propelling CBS to a victory on the night in the demo and in total viewers.